Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking with international partners to share best practice on renewable energy generation.
Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK plays a leading role with international partners in accelerating renewable and green-grid deployment, drawing on our world-leading experience. Sharing our expertise has helped countries increase their clean energy ambition, as evidenced in declarations made throughout our COP26 Presidency.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
What support his Department is providing to energy intensive industries operating in the UK in the context of energy price rises.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We recognise this continues to be a worrying time for businesses due to the significant increases in global energy prices.
Extensive engagement is happening across Government at both an official and ministerial level on this issue.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made on the commitment in the Future of Carbon Pricing document to develop a long-term decarbonisation funding stream, funded by UK Emissions Trading Scheme auction income, to support Energy Intensive Industries.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department remains committed to exploring long-term options for accelerating the decarbonisation of industry, while maintaining UK competitiveness. The Government has set out an ambitious package of support for industrial decarbonisation, including: the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support (IDHRS) scheme to fund the new hydrogen and industrial carbon capture (ICC) business models; the £1 billion CCUS Infrastructure Fund, the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, and the £289 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF). This support will enable the Government to meet its ambitions as set out in the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy and Hydrogen Strategy.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of increased numbers of electric cars on the grid capacity of the (a) UK and b) North West.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is working with the energy industry to plan for electric vehicle uptake, and the market is already set up to bring forward investment in new generation capacity; for example, the Contracts for Difference scheme supports investment in new low carbon generation, and additional demand can be managed through adjustments to the amount of capacity secured through the Capacity Market auctions.
Ensuring the adequacy of the electricity network is the responsibility of electricity network companies, and they are incentivised to do so through the regulatory framework set out by Ofgem, the independent regulator. Electricity distribution network operators (DNOs) submitted their draft business plans for the next price control (RIIO ED2), which will run from 2023-28, on 1 July. As part of this, DNOs, including Electricity North West, will include forecasts for electric vehicle uptake and how they plan to ready the network for these technologies.
As well as creating significant new demand, the transition to electric vehicles offers opportunities for flexible management of the electricity system. Smart charging during off-peak periods, when demand is low, can reduce peak demand and avoid triggering unnecessary network reinforcement. It can also maximise use of renewable electricity and can benefit consumers with cheaper electricity.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to ensure that (a) poor and (b) vulnerable fuel consumers do not face increased costs as a result of a transition to (i) low carbon and (ii) decarbonised energy plans.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Our aim is to deliver net zero at the lowest cost for all consumers. A key part of this is supporting consumers who may struggle to afford their energy.
We intend to publish an updated Fuel Poverty Strategy for England by the end of the year which will provide further information on our plans to support low income and vulnerable households as we transition to net zero.
The Energy Company Obligation, worth £640m per year, is already focused on low income and vulnerable households and the recently launched Green Homes Grant, which will provide up to £10,000 for vulnerable consumers to make their home more energy efficient. We also provide support with energy bills for low income and vulnerable consumers through the Warm Homes Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the construction of (a) onshore wind, (b) solar and (c) offshore wind sites awarded contracts in Contract for Difference Auction Round 4 will begin in the 2019 Parliament.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
Whether construction will begin during the 2019 Parliament will depend on decisions made by individual developers as well as the allocation round delivery years. Delivery years and other allocation round parameters will be published in advance of the next auction in 2021.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in (a) onshore wind, (b) solar and (c) offshore wind which could be created in the 2019 Parliament as a result of the Contract for Difference Auction Round 4.
Answered by Kwasi Kwarteng
The low carbon economy is a success story, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, and it will continue to grow as we deliver net zero. The Government has not estimated the number of jobs that could be directly created as a result of the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 4. Auction outcomes are dependent on many factors including the auction parameters, which are yet to be set. However, we work closely with industry to maximise the opportunities for UK suppliers from projects with approved Supply Chain Plans.